Behind BUILT
Founded with a passion to bridge the gap between elite coaching and community resources, BUILT Sports Performance Academy brings unparalleled expertise, professional-level coaching, and transformative resources to every athlete.
Inspired by Jacob’s journey from an under-resourced community to pursuing pro sports, BUILT’s mission is to offer the tools and coaching that athletes need to realize their full potential.
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Backed by over 10+ years of hands-on coaching experience & expertise. Our team’s collegiate educational and athletic backgrounds ensure our systems are delivered to optimize the development experience. We pride ourselves on our authentic passion for coaching, evident in the strong relationships and exceptional results we deliver daily.
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Combining our collegiate sports experience with advanced education, BUILT creates a comprehensive, high-performance environment that cultivates the best version of every human. Whether through personalized coaching, state-of-the-art training systems, or impactful mentorship, BUILT is dedicated to empowering all to achieve their dreams and goals.
Jacob Banegas
B.S. Exercise & SPORTS SCIENCE
USR1 Speed Specialist, APC, PES,
FOUNDER - Director of Performance Development | Director of Strength & Conditioning for Pima JC Baseball & Softball |
Former Collegiate S&C Coach | Former Pro Football & D1 Athlete | Former NHSSCA State Director
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The BUILT Team is led by Jacob Banegas, one of America's up and coming elite performance coaches. Currently wrapping up his Masters Degree in Sports Science & Biomechanics, Former Professional and Division 1 Athlete Jacob Banegas is an established sports science and human performance specialist located in the Las Cruces, NM, & El Paso, TX communities.
While his CFL/NFL career was haulted due to COVID, he quickly realized that the game was much bigger than himself. Spending over 5 years in the collegiate and private strength and conditioning sector combined, He developed BUILT in early 2022 wanting to provide the right resources and create a level playing field of opportunities in the southwest region that is under recruited and under resourced. Since then, he has guided numerous youth athletes towards collegiate scholarships and teams to developmental success.
Through every training session, Jacob's mission is to help develop these southwest athletes to become the best at any level.
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ANDREW ZAPIEN
B.S. Kinesiology
VP of Operations | Team Performance Solutions
Former D1 Football Athlete
Currently the Director at Samson Equipment, Andrew's leadership and strategic insight while helping with BUILT have played a pivotal role in the growth of the company. His education includes a Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology, with a minor in Sports Marketing and Business Administration from NMSU. Andy's education alongside his collegiate S&C coaching, D1 athletic experience, and work within the high school & collegiate strength and conditioning industry nationwide over the past decade brings valuable knowledge in our Team Performance Consulting & Operations.
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Natalie Martinez
B.A. psychology minor in exercise science
Mental Performance & Performance Coach
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Born and raised in Belen, New Mexico, Coach Natalie brings a multidisciplinary approach to athlete development combining psychology, education, and performance science to help athletes reach their fullest potential. She earned her B.A. in Psychology with minors in Exercise Science, Counseling, and Communication from New Mexico State University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Counseling and Doctorate in Performance Psychology from the University of Western States.
A former endurance athlete in cross country and track & field, Natalie understands firsthand the mental and physical demands of high-level competition. Outside of BUILT, she continues to coach high school cross country and track, mentoring young athletes with the same discipline and compassion she brings to the floor every day.
Natalie’s coaching philosophy centers on (developing the whole athlete—body, mind, and spirit) ensuring that lessons learned in sport transfer seamlessly into life beyond it. She integrates evidence-based training methods with mental performance strategies combined with our mental performance curriculum to foster resilience, confidence, and emotional intelligence in each athlete she works with.
With special interests in ACL health and recovery, particularly among adolescent female athletes, Natalie is passionate about helping our athletes stay healthy, perform with confidence, and build strength that lasts. When she’s not coaching, you’ll find her outdoors, training for triathlons, hiking, or enjoying sports like snowboarding and wakeboarding.
Her commitment to growth and holistic athlete development perfectly embodies the BUILT philosophy: Build the person. Build the athlete. Built for life.
Antonio Ontiveros III
B.S. Kinesiology / Exercise Science
Performance Coach
CSCS | Former Collegiate Athlete | Former Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coach
Coach Tony is a results-driven performance coach with over six years of collegiate strength and conditioning experience. A former football athlete at Southwestern University, Antonio discovered his passion for developing others through performance training and leadership on and off the field.
He began his coaching journey at Southwestern, where he helped student-athletes grow through structure, accountability, and applied sport science. His pursuit of excellence later brought him to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where he advanced his expertise in speed, power, and athletic development across multiple sports.
Antonio holds the CSCS certification and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Exercise Sports Science and Health Studies. His coaching philosophy blends scientific precision with genuine connection, helping athletes train intentionally, compete confidently, and perform consistently.
As a Lead Performance Coach at BUILT, Antonio plays a key role in executing the BUILT Method; building people first, athletes second. He leads with high energy, clear communication, and a commitment to the BUILT Code: Focus. Learn. Serve. Train. Fuel. Recover.
Antonio’s mission is simple: to elevate every athlete he works with through discipline, education, and belief. His presence on the floor sets the tone for professionalism, intensity, and continuous growth—the foundation of what it means to be BUILT.
Jenna Banegas
M.A. Ex & Sports Science / LMHC, CSCS
Wellness Coach | Asst. Coach
Coach Jenna, a Las Cruces native, brings years of athletic and coaching experience to the Built team. With a background that includes winning State Championships at Mayfield HS, Sprinting at the D1 Level then coaching NMSU T&F and Olympic-level athletes, she's been a valuable addition. Jenna's expertise extends beyond her coaching as she holds a Masters Degrees in Mental Health Counseling as well. This unique blend allows her to support athletes' mental development growth alongside their physical growth. By integrating mental performance coaching support, Jenna helps athletes achieve balance and empowerment both on and off the field.
OUR CULTURE
The heart and soul of Built Sports Performance Academy are the athletes that show up and work hard week in and week out. They represent everything we stand for. Their success is the sole focus of everything we do.
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Our Culture of athletic development is fueled by an unrelenting desire to maximize performance, on and off a field. Through a collective pursuit of physical, mental, and emotional growth. As we provide tools that every athlete in the world should have. A System of progressions in the weight room. A Mental development method combining self-reflection and self-evaluation in a journalling process. As well as some unique recovery tools and resources to display the knowledge and add the missing piece of nutrition and sleep.
Daily, We strive to develop. Knowing that all sports give us the blueprint to achieve success in every phase of life. This is what it means to LIVE BUILT.